adrenal [uh-DREE-nul] gland—a small gland that sits on top of each kidney and produces certain hormones for the body to use
advanced kidney cancer—term that means the cancer has spread to more than one part of the kidney and possibly other parts of the body, and usually cannot be cured by surgery or other treatments
advanced liver cancer—term that means the cancer has spread to more than one part of the liver and possibly other parts of the body, and usually cannot be cured by surgery or other treatments
alpha-fetoprotein [AL-fuh-FEE-toh-PROH-teen] (AFP) blood test—a blood test that measures alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a protein that can be found at elevated levels in adults with some forms of cancer, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of primary liver cancer. This protein can also be found in adults without cancer
biologic [by-uh-LAH-jik] therapy—treatments that use the body's immune system to fight cancer. Also called immunotherapy (ih-MYOO-no-THAYR-uh-pee)
biopsy [BY-op-see]—the removal of cells or tissue for examination to see if disease is present
cirrhosis [seh-ROH-sis]—a disease in which liver cells become damaged and are replaced by scar tissue—usually caused by alcoholism or certain infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and disorders
computed axial tomography (CAT) [kum-PYOO-tehd AK-see-ul toh-MAH-gruh-fee] scan—a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body taken from different angles. A computer linked to an x-ray machine takes the pictures. The test is also known as a computed tomography (CT) scan
curative [KYOO-re-tiv] treatment—treatment aimed at getting rid of all signs of cancer (an example is surgery)
hepatitis [HEH-puh-TY-tis]—a disease causing inflammation of the liver
hepatitis B andhepatitis C viruses—two different viruses that cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). Both can be spread through blood, sexual contact, and from mothers to infants during birth
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [heh-PA-toh-SEL-yoo-ler KAR-sih-NOH-muh]—the most common kind of liver cancer that starts in the liver cells (hepatocytes [heh-PA-toh-sites])
immune [ih-MYOON] system—a group of organs and cells that help protect your body from infection and disease
laparoscopic nephrectomy [LA-puh-ruh-SKAH-pik neh-FREK-toh-mee]—a type of surgery to remove a kidney, or part of a kidney in which small incisions, or cuts, are made and a small laparoscope (a thin, tubelike instrument with a light and a lens for viewing) is inserted into one incision to see the kidney and small surgical tools are inserted into the other small incisions. The surgeon looks into the laparoscope to guide the removal of the kidney using the surgical tools
laparoscopy [LA-puh-ROS-koh-pee]—a type of surgery that uses a laparoscope (a thin, tubelike instrument with a light and a lens for viewing), which enters the body through a small incision in order to view inside the body without having to make large incisions
localized resectable [ree-SEK-tuh-bul]—in liver cancer, a staging term that means the tumor is located in one part of the liver and can be removed with surgery (resected)
localized unresectable [UN-ree-SEK-tuh-bul]—in liver cancer, a staging term that means the cancer is in one part of the liver, but the tumor cannot be surgically removed, either because of where it is or because the rest of the liver is not healthy enough
lymph nodes [limf]-filter lymph (lymphatic fluid) and store lymphocytes [LIM-foh-sites] (white blood cells). Lymph nodes are part of the immune system
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [mag-NEH-tik REH-zuh-nunts IH-muh-jing]—a radiology test used to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body using radio waves and a powerful magnet linked to a computer. MRI is especially good at creating pictures of the brain, the soft tissue of joints, and the inside of bones
metastases [meh-TAS-tuh-sis]—the spread of cancer from one part of the body to other parts of the body. New tumors, which are called "metastatic tumors" or "metastases," contain cells that are like those in the original (primary) tumor
nephrectomy [neh-FREK-toh-mee]—a surgery to remove a kidney
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—a term used to describe the buildup of fat in the liver cells of individuals who drink little or no alcohol
nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [stee-A-toe-HEH-puh-TY-tis] (NASH)—a term used to describe a serious development in NAFLD that may lead to liver damage
noncurative care—treatment that can make symptoms better and keep the cancer from getting worse for as long as possible but will not cure the cancer. Also called palliative [pa-lee-uh-tiv] care
partial nephrectomy [PAR-shul neh-FREK-toh-mee]—a surgery to remove part of one kidney or a kidney tumor, but not an entire kidney
percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) [per-kyoo-TAY-nee-us EH-thuh-nol in-JEK-shun]—a process that destroys tumors by injecting them with a form of alcohol (ethanol)
perforated bowel [pur-FOR-A-tid BOW-ul]—a hole directly in the wall of the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. A perforated bowel requires surgery, as food and other substances can leak into the abdomen, causing severe infection
radical nephrectomy [RA-dih-kul neh-FREK-toh-mee]—a surgery that removes the entire kidney along with the adrenal gland and some tissue around the kidney
radiofrequency ablation [RAY-dee-oh-FREE-kwen-see uh-BLAY-shun]—a process that kills tumors by heating them to high temperatures with microwave probes
radiotherapy [RAY-dee-oh-THAYR-uh-pee]—a ray or beam of high-energy particles that is used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors
recurrent [re-ker-ent] cancer—a staging term that means the cancer has returned after treatment or surgery
regional lymphadenectomy [LIMF-a-de-NEK-toh-mee]—Sometimes performed when cancers are removed by surgery, such as in the case of a radical nephrectomy, a regional lymphadenectomy removes nearby lymph nodes to see whether the cancer has spread to them
renal cell carcinoma [REE-nul sel KAR-sih-NOH-muh]—the most common form of kidney cancer that forms in the lining of very small tubes that filter the blood in the kidney
resectable [ree-SEK-tuh-bul]—able to remove all or some of a cancer tumor by surgery
specialty pharmacy—a special pharmacy that fills prescriptions and deliver medications that are not available in local or chain pharmacies
staging—the use of exams and tests to learn the extent of the cancer within the body, especially how far the disease has spread. Staging usually takes into account the size and
location of tumor(s)
transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) [trans-ar-TEER-ee-ul KEE-moh-EM-boh-lih-ZAY-shun]—a procedure in which chemotherapy drugs are injected into the blood vessels that feed the tumors. This delivers a high dose of chemotherapy to the tumor while lowering the blood supply that feeds the tumor
tumor ablation [a-BLAY-shun]—the name for several different processes that destroy a tumor without removing it (examples of ablation techniques include percutaneous ethanol
injection (PEI), radiofrequency ablation, and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE))
unresectable (UN-ree-SEK-tuh-bul)—a cancer tumor that cannot be removed by surgery
ultrasound (UL-truh-SOWND)—a radiology test in which high-energy sound waves are bounced off areas inside the body and make echoes. The echo patterns are shown on the screen of an ultrasound machine, forming a picture that enables the doctor to see the body tissues